/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/current-students/images/Coffs-harbour_student-group_20220616_33-147kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/current-students/services/counselling/images/RS21533_English-College-Student_20191210_DSC_6961-117kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/study/scholarships/images/STEPHANIE-PORTO-108-2-169kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/study/arts-and-humanities/images/RS20958_Chin-Yung-Pang-Andy_20190309__79I5562-960X540.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/experience/images/SCU-INTNL-STUDY-GUIDE-280422-256-72kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/dep-site-assets/component-library/screenshots/online-1X1.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/news/images/2025/Keyarrah.jpg)
Categories
Share
When Wiradyuri woman Carol De Launey crossed Southern Cross University’s graduation stage in 2002, she did not know she would be trailblazing a path for three generations of her family over the next two decades.
Carol graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy, followed by her daughter Tanietta De Launey, who graduated in 2012, and her granddaughter Keyarrah Sweetwater-Delauney, who crossed the stage in April this year.
“Education is really important for Indigenous peoples and every one of us that graduates from a tertiary institution pushes the door open that little bit more for others to come after us,” Carol says.
“It's important for our community that we have doctors, lawyers, educators and politicians, but it's also important for ourselves. For me, it was my journey. It was the opportunity to take myself further and to learn,” she says.
Carol served on a State Advisory Committee for four years, during which she advised the Minister for Housing during a period of sweeping reforms in social housing, and helped design and establish a regional peak body for social housing tenants.
The sentiment of both personal and community enrichment is echoed by Tanietta, who completed a Bachelor of Indigenous Studies (Trauma and Healing) and Master of Indigenous Studies through Southern Cross University’s Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples.
Tanietta has worked in community roles in an Indigenous women’s refuge, as a native title liaison officer, an Indigenous psychotherapist and now at Southern Cross University as a Study Support Officer in the Indigenous Australian Student Services (IASS).
“Studying changed my life and that rippled out into my community. I did a lot of frontline work to give back after my degree,” Tanietta says.
Having returned to study as a mature-age student, Tanietta found her feet through the University’s support services.
“I had a lot of trouble in school. I doubted my ability to do uni. But then I came to IASS and received a tutor and that was game-changing,” Tanietta says.
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/news/images/2025/GC-GRAD-INDIGENOUS-GRADUATES-CEREMONY-01-AND-02-5.jpg)
IASS provides information, advice, and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students both on-campus and online, including tutoring, scholarships, alternative pathways and social and emotional support.
“I feel like I came home when I came to Southern Cross University. The University believed in me and IASS profoundly impacted my success. By the end of my degree, I received the Gnibi Award for having the highest Grade Point Average,” she says.
Both Carol and Tanietta attended the Gold Coast graduation ceremonies last month, which saw 60 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students cross the stage, the largest ever cohort of Indigenous students to graduate at Southern Cross.
Among them was Keyarrah, adorning a red, yellow and black stole.
“My mum and I, seeing Keyarrah graduate, we were both filled with pride,” Tanietta says.
“Wearing our Indigenous colours on the graduation robes and being acknowledged by other academics was really powerful. Having our photo taken with the Chancellor made us feel important and proud.”
For Keyarrah, graduating with her mother and grandmother in attendance was even more meaningful.
“It meant the world to me to have them there with me at graduation. Sharing this milestone with the women who have supported and guided me throughout my life made the moment even more special,” Keyarrah says.
“The matriarchs in my family have shown incredible strength and determination in completing their own studies, and they’ve been my biggest cheerleaders throughout my degree.
“For many First Nations women, the path through study comes with added challenges like intergenerational trauma, cultural responsibilities, and family obligations. These are the unseen weights we carry. But I’ve learned that chipping away at your dreams, even slowly, makes them possible.”
“University was so much more than I expected. Throughout the course I had so many meaningful experiences with Elders, Indigenous academics and with cultural events at Gnibi. It was a special time in my life that I will never forget.”
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/news/images/2025/Keyarrah-Delauney.jpg)
Keyarrah entered university through the Preparing for Success Program, a pathway program that develops academic skills, before enrolling in the Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge. During her studies, she received the support of the Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS), and passed with flying colours.
“This has been the most challenging and transformative journey of my life,” she says.
“University was so much more than I expected. Throughout the course I had so many meaningful experiences with Elders, Indigenous academics and with cultural events at Gnibi. It was a special time in my life that I will never forget.
“I'm proud of what I’ve achieved and deeply grateful for the opportunities that have come from studying a Bachelor degree. This experience has shaped who I am today and opened doors I never imagined possible.”
Keyarrah currently works as an Early Childhood Professional Experience Coordinator within the Faculty of Education and also as a Wayfinder with IASS.
“I’m interested in pursuing postgraduate studies. I’m passionate about Nation-building and committed to creating opportunities that centre Indigenous strengths and knowledge systems in everything I do.”
Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples is committed to providing culturally safe, dynamic and innovative courses, providing professional career pathways, and engaging in scholarship and research in Indigenous Knowledge.
Learn more about studying Indigenous Knowledge.